Hydroplane hull structure



p 9. 1942- k. M. BRIEN 2,296,977

HYDROPLANE HULL STRUCTURE Filed March a, 1941 INVENTOR.

KENNETH M. BRIEN Patented Sept. 29, 1942 HY-DROPLANE HULL STRUCTURE Kenneth M. Brien, Detroit, Mich., assignor of onehalf to James W. Keloh, Detroit, Mich.

Application'March 3, 1941, Serial No. 381,572

5 Claims.

This invention relates generally to hull structures of boats and refers more particularly to the hull structure of hydroplanes and the like.

One of the essential objects of the invention is to provide a hull structure of this type having a three-point internal suspension that possesses all the good riding points of other boats, but has greater lift and stabilization characteristics. For example, the hull structure forming the subject-matter of this application acts like an outrigger on a canoe but is devoid of the iaterally projecting side boards of such outrigger, hence the gravity side pull on the height of the hull has been accordingly very materially reduced. In other words, the suspension is underneath the boat and of such construction that the maximum efliciency for speed and good riding is obtained.

Another object is to provide a hull structure having suitable means such as laterally spaced runners constructed and arranged in such a way that they will provide a greater lift for the rear end of the boat and will reduce surface *re sistance to a minimum.

Another object is to provide a hull structure having a tunnel back or arched portion provided with upright side walls for stopping lateral skidding and to cut down the amount of friction, especially when making curves at relatively high speed.

Another object is to provide a hull structure having an arc'hedor tunnel back portion that is constructedin such away that it will cut down back pressure.

Another object is to provide .a hull structure having relatively narrow wings extending lengthwise -of the 111111 at opposite sides thereof to ride the air foam and to aid stabilization of the boat.

Another object is to provide a hull structure having a transversely extending step at the forward end of the tunnel back portion to assist the runners and a stepped structure adjacent the forward end of the boat to provide the proper stabilization and lift for the boat when changing from low to high speeds.

Another object is to provide a hull structure wherein the rearmost lower transverse edge portions of the stepped structure just mentioned and of the side runners constitute the riding points of and provide the proper stabilization for the boat when traveling at high speed.

Other objects, advantages and novel details of construction of this invention will be made more apparent as this description proceeds, cs-

pecially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is aside elevation of a hull structure embodying my invention;

' Figure 2 is a bottom plan view thereof;

Figure '3 is a rear end View thereof;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 44 of Figure 2.

Referring now to the drawing, A is a hydroplane hull embodying my invention provided on the underside thereof with a stepped structure I0, 'a substantially fiat portion I'l, side runners l2 and I3, a transverse step M, an arched or tunnel back portion t5, and longituc'linal ly extending side wings l6 and 11.

As shown, the stepped structure I?!) is in advance of the center of the hull and comprises tw longitudinally extending low steps .IB and t9, respectively, at opposite sides of the hull, and an intermediate longitudinally extending high step 20. Preferably such .steps 18, :19 and 11}, respectively, have substantially flush, upright, rear ends 2|, 22 and 23, respectively, extending transversely of the 'hull adjacent the center thereof and taper forwardly from said :rear ends to and merge with the shaped underside 24 of the hull at the forward end thereof. Depending upon circumstances, the depth of the steps 18, i9 and 20, respectively, at their rear ends may vary, but I have found that :very satisfactory results :are obtained when the depth of each of the low steps 18 and I9 is approximately three inches andthe depth of the high step 26 eisapproximately six inches. Primarily the steps I18 and I9 are for low speeds while the step :20 is for high speeds.

The flat portion 11 spans the center .of the hull from the flush rear ends 21, .22 and '23, respectively, of the steps 218, ii 9 .and 220 to the transverse step [4 at the forward end of the arched portion [5. The flat portion I I ;is equal in width to the stepped structure It! and has opposite side walls 12'! .and 28 thereof substantially in alignment with the outer side walls 259 and .39, -respectively, of :the low steps I8 and 1-9. Preferably this fiat portion l l inclines downwardly and rearwardly from the stepped structure Ill to the transverse step [4.

The side runners I2 and I3 extend rearwardly from the transverse step [4 to the rear end of the hull. The outer side walls 3| and 32, respectively, of the runners l2 and I3 are substantially flush with and constitute rearward extensions of th side walls 21 and 28 of the fiat portion H, while the bottom faces 33 and 34, respectively, of

said runners are curved longitudinally throughout their length as illustrated in Figure 1. The rear upright ends 35 and 36, respectively, of the runners are substantially flush with the straight upright rear end 31 of the hull. The inner upright side walls 38 and 39, respectively, of the runners are straight and constitute the side walls of the intermediate transversely arched or tunnel back portion I which in the present instance extends lengthwise 0f the hull from the transverse step I4 to the rear end 31 of the hull. As shown, the outer and inner side walls 3|, 32, 38 and 39, respectively, of the runners taper forwardly from the rear end 31 of the hull to the transverse step l4, while th side walls 21 and 28, respectively, of the flat portion II taper forwardly from the transverse stepI4to the rear end of the stepped structure I0.

The step I4 extends transversely of the hull from one side to the other of the flat portion I I at the forward ends of the runners I2 and I3 and intermediate tunnel back portion I5 and assists said runners and the stepped structure II] to provide the proper lift and stabilization for the boat when changing from low to high speeds.

The side wings I6 and I! are relatively narrow and extend longitudinally of the hull from points adjacent the forward ends of the low steps I8 and I9 to th rear end 31 of the hull. Preferably the bottom surfaces 40 and M, respectively, of

these wings are fiat throughout their length and extend along the outer side walls of the low steps I8 and I9, of the flat portion II, and of the runners I2 and I3, while the top walls 42 and 43 thereof are flush with and curve downwardly and outwardly from the top of the hull to the outer side edges of said wings. The forward ends 44 and 45, respectively, of the wings curve into the curved sid wall 46 and 41 of the hull at its forward end, while the rear ends 48 and 49, respectively, of the wings are straight and substantially flush with the upright rear end 31 of the hull.

Thus, from the foregoing it will be apparent that the lower surfaces of the stepped structure I0 and flat portion II incline downwardly and rearwardly relative to the lower faces 40 and 4| of the side wings; that the lower surfaces of the side runners are curved longitudinall throughout their length; and that the rarmost transverse lower edge portions 50, 5| and 52, respectively, of such stepped portions and runners constitute a three-point internal suspension upon which the hull rides at high speed. When making curves at high speed, the inner side wall 38 and 39 of the runners serve effectively to prevent lateral skidding. The tunnel back" orv arched portion I5 cuts down back pressure. When changing from low to high speeds, the transverse step I4 assist the stepped portion II! and runners I2 and. I3 to provide the proper stabilization. The wings I6 and I! ride the air foam and cooperate to stabilize the hull at its rear end; Thus, all of the features of the hull structure lend themselves to greater and better stabilization.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A hull structure comprising a hull provided on the underside thereof with a stepped portion, a substantially fiat portion, side runners, a tunnel back or arched portion, and a transversely extending step, the stepped portion being adjacent the forward end Of the hull, the fiat portion being intermediate the stepped portion and side runners, the said side runners extending from the flat portion to the rear end of th hull, the tunnel back or arched portion being between and extending lengthwise of the side runners, and the transversely extending step being at the forward end of the tunnel back or arched portion.

2 A hull structure comprising a hull provided on the underside thereof with a stepped portion, a substantially fiat portion, and side runners, the stepped portion being adjacent the forward end of the hull and including low steps extending lengthwise of the hull at opposite side thereof and a higher step extending lengthwise of the hull between th low steps, the side runners being at the rear end of the hull, and th flat portion being intermediate the stepped portion and side runners, the flat portion being above the stepped portion, and the lower faces of the side runners being curved longitudinally throughout their length.

3. A hull structure comprising a hull provided on the underside thereof with a stepped portion, and a tunnel back or arched portion, the stepped portion including two low steps and one intermediate high step extending lengthwise of the hull adjacent its forward end, and the tunnel back or arched portion extending lengthwise of the hull at its rear end.

4. A hull structure comprising a hull provided on the underside thereof with a stepped portion, a tunnel back or arched portion, and a transversely extending step, the stepped portion including two low steps and one intermediate high step extending lengthwise of the hull adjacent the forward end thereof, the tunnel back or arched portion extending lengthwise of the hull at its rear end, and the transversely extending step being at th forward end of the tunnel back or arched portion.

5. A hull structure comprising a hull provided on the underside thereof with a stepped portion, a flat portion, side runners, and side wings, the stepped portion being at the forward end of the hull, the side runners being at the rear end of the hull, the flat portion being intermediate the stepped portion and side runners, and the side wings extending lengthwise of the hull from points adjacent the forward end of the stepped portion to the rear end of the hull, the lower faces of the side wings being substantially flat, the lower faces of the stepped portion and fiat portion respectively inclining downwardly and rearwardly relative to the flat low faces of the side wings, and the lower faces of the side runners being curved longitudinally.

KENNETH M. BRIEN. 

